Air Canada's unionized flight attendants reached an agreement with the country's largest carrier on Tuesday, ending the first strike by its cabin crew in 40 years that had upended travel plans for hundreds of thousands of passengers.

The airline said that it would gradually restart operations Tuesday but that a return to "full restoration may require a week or more."

Air Canada said it will gradually restart operations after reaching an agreement early on Tuesday with the union for 10,000 flight attendants to end a strike that disrupted the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of travelers.

Air Canada's flight attendant union reached a tentative agreement with the country's largest airline, after a multi-day strike that temporarily halted operations.

Air Canada says customers affected by the flight attendant strike may claim other transport costs — like a car rental, bus or ferry — to seek compensation from the airline, but coverage will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Canadian regulators once again ordered union leaders to end Air Canada's work stoppage on Monday, while employees remain defiant.

Air Canada announces a surprising new policy to compensate passengers after a cabin crew strike grounds hundreds of flights. The airline promises to cover transportation costs, but details are scarce.